Unemployment, Hunger and accumulating EMI’s stare at Islands’ self employed autowallas

By Debkumar Bhadra
The COVID-19 pandemic, associated lockdown and restriction on economic activity impacted different sections of the society in varied proportions. While the government is staring at a steep economic slide, the working class specifically those who have been working daily to make ends meet are reeling under abject poverty due to loss of job. The lower strata of the society comprising daily earners have been hit the hardest. Autorikshaw, Jeep, Taxi operators are one such affected group who have been at the receiving end since day one of the pandemic.
According to 2018-19 edition of Basic Statistics there are 4738 registered autorikshaw, 31766 LMV’s including Cars/Taxi Omni & Jeep out of which an estimated 15-20% is engaged in commercial (Point-to-Point) transport sector, 257 Government owned State Transport Service (STS) Busses and 143 Privately owned busses catering to the commuting needs of the passengers in these islands. Owing to the miniscule number of public transport busses compared to the demand, Auto/Jeep slowly became the main public transport. In some of the routes, they are the only means of public transport service providing both individual and shared point-to-point services. Not only this, the sector also is one of the most sought after self employment venture and gives direct employment to a considerable section of the society.
I spoke to some of those autorishaw operators on the impact of lockdown on their lives. Usman Ali (42 Yrs) who owns an auto says he has been living a contended life driving auto since 2006. Following lockdown his auto now stands parked in front of his home all the time. From a proud self employed, Usman has become jobless. Some NGO’s during the initial days of lockdown did come to his help by giving ration items, but that is only help and he cannot complain saying it is inadequate. The little savings he had is the only support that is keeping Usman and his family of four alive. Situation has become such that he could not remit his sons school fees. When summoned, he had to cut a sorry face in front of school authorities and return without collecting his son‘s progress report. He says, his priority is to arrange two meals for his family so that they stay alive. Even a king will not be a king but pauper, in absence of regular income.
Prabhakar (38 Yrs) also has a similar story to share. He has been making a living driving auto since 2014, but lockdown has rendered him jobless. He is at his wits end unable to look after his families day to day needs. He says he is thankful to the government for extending validity of vehicle documents till December 2020. But that is not adequate since another Rs 30000/= to Rs 40000/= would be required for Fitness related maintenance works, Meter sealing, Insurance etc. Prabhakar thus opines validity of all vehicle documents needs to be extended for about 6 months after lockdown is lifted since without any income in the past several months, it is impossible for him to foot the bill for those mandatory requirements.
I also spoke to Gulshan (29 Yrs) who bought autorikshaw under PMRY (Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana) and the auto is currently under hypothecation with SBI. He has been driving the auto since 2017 supporting his family and paid Bank EMI regularly. However after lockdown, he could not drive the auto. Without income, there is no money in his account to pay for the EMI’s. He says he has been regular with EMI’s to claim the subsidy. But after defaulting with loan repayment due to loss of job, he is worried that he may not get the subsidy. The little saving he has been having is also drying fast and there is a family who look towards him for their needs.
Shankar Mondal (46 Yrs) is another auto driver who has been hit doubly by the lockdown. He had been plying auto since auto was introduced in these islands. Not only that he lost his job, his wife who used to work in a printing press at Junglighat also is unable to go to work due to lockdown/non availability of public transport. He says, he is not getting mobile internet in his home hence not in a position to support her daughters online classes. Job loss has rendered him short of money hence he could neither pay his daughters school fees nor could he buy her new set of books. Mr Mondal said if he is not able to get back to work soon, his daughters future will be in jeopardy.

I also spoke to Shri J Hemanth Rao, Pradhan Shore Point Gram Panchayat on the issue. He said there are 68 personnel in Shore Point village engaged in driving auto, jeep etc and he is seized of the difficulties face by them. He said he has taken up the matter with A&N Administration. The matter was also discussed with Director Transport. and a request for monetary help along with the list of 68 auto jeep drivers rendered jobless due to lockdown has already been submitted to the Administration. He is hopeful the Administration will act on his request.
Shri Hemanth Rao also said after the recent order relaxing lockdown norms, various commercial activities have started in the islands. The Administration therefore need to lift ban on public transport and permit plying of auto, jeep etc. Even public is facing lot of difficulty in reaching place of duty. This will also help those engaged in running auto, jeep etc as their unemployment problem could be sorted out.
Further as a welfare measure, Shri Hemanth Rao urged the A&N Administration to formulate a scheme to give financial assistance to those engaged in plying of auto, jeep and other transport vehicles for atleast six months so that the loss they have incurred due to lockdown could be compensated to some extent. Also those who availed loan need to be given relaxation in repayment of EMI’s for the entire lockdown period so that they are not put to un-necessary hardship.
From the interaction, I could feel the lockdown had a negative impact on the life and livelihood of those employed in the transport sector. They are wary, they are scared that they may get infected by the virus, yet they want to get back to work as soon as possible because they want to earn their livelihood and ensure two square meals for their family. All they want is to come out of the fear and attain self dependency they had during pre-lockdown days.
Even the government is looking to bring normalcy hence relaxed various norms to start commercial activity and put the economy back on track. For this to happen, the transport sector need to be opened up and those employed in transport sector be given their job back. Afterall, lockdown is past and unlock is the present buzzword.